Westminster men score PAC soccer title

Westminster men score PAC soccer title

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BEAVER FALLS, Pa. (pacathletics.org) – Fourth-seeded Westminster College locked up its first Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) men’s soccer title since 2008 after converting on four-of-five penalty kicks in Saturday’s title match against second-seeded Geneva College.

The championship match was played to a scoreless draw through 120 minutes.

Saturday’s matchup between Westminster and Geneva was the first-ever meeting between the schools in the PAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament. It was also the first time a four seed won the league title since 2007, when fourth-seeded Thomas More College posted a 2-1 win over second-seeded Washington & Jefferson College.

By claiming the PAC Championship Tournament title, Westminster secured the league's automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The NCAA will announce its field and opening-round matchups for the Division III Championship Tournament on Monday, November 9 at 1:30 p.m. The selection show is scheduled to stream live at ncaa.com.
 
2015 PAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament – Championship
Saturday, November 7
Reeves Field :: Beaver Falls, Pa.
#4 Westminster at #2 Geneva
Westminster 0, Geneva 0 (2OT)
Westminster wins in penalty kicks 4-2 (5 rounds)
Fourth-seeded Westminster won its fourth PAC title (2015, 2008, 2006, 2002) Saturday evening at Reeves Field, besting second-seeded Geneva 4-2 in the five-round penalty kick series. The Titans went up 3-0 in the shootout after successful attempts by senior Cody Postupac (Export, Pa./Penn Trafford), senior Marcus Gurgiolo (Edinburg, Pa./Mohawk), and sophomore Grant Gagnon (Johnstown, Pa./Westmont Hilltop) and a pair of pivotal stops by senior goalkeeper Tyler Little (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock). Sophomore Gib McCracken (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver County Christian School) kept Geneva alive with a successful third-round attempt. Geneva sophomore Zach Lehman (Lancaster, Pa./Lancaster Mennonite) closed the gap to 3-2, but Westminster senior Richard Beaudoin (Adamstown, Md./Tuscarora) sealed the win after his successful fifth-round attempt. Little finished with one save for Westminster, while freshman goalkeeper Luke Nolan (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) totaled six.
 
2015 PAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament – Semifinal
Wednesday, November 4
BB&T Field: Crestview Hills, Ky.
#4 Westminster at #1 Thomas More
Westminster 2, Thomas More 1
Westminster sophomore Zack Walters (Hermitage, Pa./Hickory) netted the game winner in the 90th minute of action Wednesday afternoon as the fourth-seeded Titans posted a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Thomas More. The four over one upset was the first in the semifinal round of the league’s championship tournament since 2010, when Thomas More and W&J played to a 1-1 double overtime draw before the Saints won in penalty kicks (5-3). The win moves Westminster into the PAC Championship Tournament title match for the first time since claiming its last league title in 2008. After playing through a scoreless first half, Westminster senior Eric Michalski (Pittsburgh, Pa./Baldwin) gave the Titans a 1-0 advantage in the 48th minute. The goal was the first of Michalski’s career. Sophomore Eli Nienaber (LaGrange, Ky./Bishop Brossart) scored the Thomas More equalizer in the 87th minute off of a corner kick from senior Austin Juniet (Fort Thomas, Ky./Newport Central Catholic). Westminster senior goalkeeper Tyler Little (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock) finished with nine saves in the win.
 
2015 PAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament – Semifinal
Wednesday, November 4
Reeves Field :: Beaver Falls, Pa.
#3 Grove City at #2 Geneva
Geneva 2, Grove City 1 (2OT)
Junior Brandon Crider’s (Marion, Pa./Shalom Christian Academy) sudden victory goal in the 105th minute gave second-seeded Geneva a 2-1 double overtime win over third-seeded Grove City Wednesday night. Geneva freshman Liam O’Halloran (Elyria, Ohio/Elyria Catholic) opened the scoring in the 73rd minute, with the goal coming off of an assist by junior Jonathan Shoaf (Virginia Beach, Va./Norfolk Christian). Grove City senior Seth Loew (Center Valley, Pa./Southern Lehigh) scored the equalizer in the 76th minute off of an assist from senior Tim Shackleton (Malvern, Pa./Great Valley). Geneva freshman goalkeeper Luke Nolan (Wexford, Pa./North Allegheny) finished with six saves in the victory. The win sends Geneva to its first conference title match since making back-to-back championship match appearances in 2011 and 2012.